1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

R241 : page 2the graves shall hear his (Jesus') voice and shall come forth.""The dead shall hear the voice of the Son of man and they thathear shall live." (John 5:25,28.) Again, "I am the resurrectionand the life."As Jesus preached freedom from evil maladies, and death, heexemplified the power and authority of his preaching by"healing all manner of diseases," raising the dead to life, andturning sadness and mourning into gladness and joy, giving"beauty for ashes." And all of those miracles and all of Jesus'preaching was but the proof or exemplification of the power bywhich the great work, not yet commenced should finally beaccomplished. The apostle indicates this when he saysconcerning Jesus' miracles--"These things did Jesus andmanifested forth [before the time --the Millennial age] hisglory." (John 2:11.) Thus did Jesus preach by word andillustration the coming emancipation of mankind from thethralldom of disease and death--"liberty to the captives andopening of the prison to them that are bound."But while Jesus had this general proclamation of deliverance forthe world he had a special message to some--viz.: an invitationto those who would, to enter in at the strait gate and the narrow(difficult) way, and become with him joint heirs to "Glory,Honor and Immortality." Of this way he truly said--"Few therebe that find it." And foreknowing that few would take up theircross and follow him, he called those who would do so andthereby become heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised,a little flock-- saying: "Fear not little flock it is your Father'sgood pleasure to give you the kingdom." And this feature ofJesus' preaching is mentioned by the prophet--"To appoint[promise] unto them that mourn in Zion [the repentant] to giveunto them...the oil of joy for the spirit of mourning; (this is thepromise of the spirit to all who truly turn to God. Oil, is asymbol of the spirit. Thus the "little flock" is promised a shareof the same anointing as their head--Jesus,) that they might becalled trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that hemight be glorified.Thus did Jesus preach the "good news" in two parts--First to theworld a restitution of all things by a resurrection--illustrated byhis miracles; and second--the great prize and blessing obtainableby those who will now walk in "the narrow way" illustrated inhis own person, for he set us an example that we should walk inhis footsteps.THE CHURCH ANOINTED.The anointing spirit power which came first upon the head wasdue and did in due time (Pentecost) come upon the church whichis his body. And the anointing which she there received abideth